Much Ado about Nothing
Act III.
Scene i. Leonato's garden.
- Enter Hero, Margaret, and Ursula
- Hero: Good Margaret, run thee to the parlor;
- There shalt thou find my cousin Beatrice
- Proposing with the prince and Claudio:
- Whisper her ear and tell her, I and Ursula
- Walk in the orchard and our whole discourse
- Is all of her; say that thou overheard'st us;
- And bid her steal into the pleached bower,
- Where honeysuckles, ripen'd by the sun,
- Forbid the sun to enter, like favourites,
- Made proud by princes, that advance their pride
- Against that power that bred it: there will she hide her,
- To listen our purpose. This is thy office;
- Bear thee well in it and leave us alone.
- Margaret: I'll make her come, I warrant you, presently.
- Exit
- Hero: Now, Ursula, when Beatrice doth come,
- As we do trace this alley up and down,
- Our talk must only be of Benedick.
- When I do name him, let it be thy part
- To praise him more than ever man did merit:
- My talk to thee must be how Benedick
- Is sick in love with Beatrice. Of this matter
- Is little Cupid's crafty arrow made,
- That only wounds by hearsay.
- Enter Beatrice, behind
- Now begin;
- For look where Beatrice, like a lapwing, runs
- Close by the ground, to hear our conference.
- Ursula: The pleasant'st angling is to see the fish
- Cut with her golden oars the silver stream,
- And greedily devour the treacherous bait:
- So angle we for Beatrice; who even now
- Is couched in the woodbine coverture.
- Fear you not my part of the dialogue.
- Hero: Then go we near her, that her ear lose nothing
- Of the false sweet bait that we lay for it.
- Approaching the bower
- No, truly, Ursula, she is too disdainful;
- I know her spirits are as coy and wild
- As haggerds of the rock.
- Ursula: But are you sure
- That Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely?
- Hero: So says the prince and my new-trothed lord.
- Ursula: And did they bid you tell her of it, madam?
- Hero: They did entreat me to acquaint her of it;
- But I persuaded them, if they loved Benedick,
- To wish him wrestle with affection,
- And never to let Beatrice know of it.
- Ursula: Why did you so? Doth not the gentleman
- Deserve as full as fortunate a bed
- As ever Beatrice shall couch upon?
- Hero: O god of love! I know he doth deserve
- As much as may be yielded to a man:
- But Nature never framed a woman's heart
- Of prouder stuff than that of Beatrice;
- Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes,
- Misprising what they look on, and her wit
- Values itself so highly that to her
- All matter else seems weak: she cannot love,
- Nor take no shape nor project of affection,
- She is so self-endeared.
- Ursula: Sure, I think so;
- And therefore certainly it were not good
- She knew his love, lest she make sport at it.
- Hero: Why, you speak truth. I never yet saw man,
- How wise, how noble, young, how rarely featured,
- But she would spell him backward: if fair-faced,
- She would swear the gentleman should be her sister;
- If black, why, Nature, drawing of an antique,
- Made a foul blot; if tall, a lance ill-headed;
- If low, an agate very vilely cut;
- If speaking, why, a vane blown with all winds;
- If silent, why, a block moved with none.
- So turns she every man the wrong side out
- And never gives to truth and virtue that
- Which simpleness and merit purchaseth.
- Ursula: Sure, sure, such carping is not commendable.
- Hero: No, not to be so odd and from all fashions
- As Beatrice is, cannot be commendable:
- But who dare tell her so? If I should speak,
- She would mock me into air; O, she would laugh me
- Out of myself, press me to death with wit.
- Therefore let Benedick, like cover'd fire,
- Consume away in sighs, waste inwardly:
- It were a better death than die with mocks,
- Which is as bad as die with tickling.
- Ursula: Yet tell her of it: hear what she will say.
- Hero: No; rather I will go to Benedick
- And counsel him to fight against his passion.
- And, truly, I'll devise some honest slanders
- To stain my cousin with: one doth not know
- How much an ill word may empoison liking.
- Ursula: O, do not do your cousin such a wrong.
- She cannot be so much without true judgment—
- Having so swift and excellent a wit
- As she is prized to have—as to refuse
- So rare a gentleman as Signior Benedick.
- Hero: He is the only man of Italy.
- Always excepted my dear Claudio.
- Ursula: I pray you, be not angry with me, madam,
- Speaking my fancy: Signior Benedick,
- For shape, for bearing, argument and valour,
- Goes foremost in report through Italy.
- Hero: Indeed, he hath an excellent good name.
- Ursula: His excellence did earn it, ere he had it.
- When are you married, madam?
- Hero: Why, every day, to-morrow. Come, go in:
- I'll show thee some attires, and have thy counsel
- Which is the best to furnish me to-morrow.
- Ursula: She's limed, I warrant you: we have caught her, madam.
- Hero: If it proves so, then loving goes by haps:
- Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps.
- Exeunt Hero and Ursula
- Beatrice: [Coming forward]
- What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true?
- Stand I condemn'd for pride and scorn so much?
- Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu!
- No glory lives behind the back of such.
- And, Benedick, love on; I will requite thee,
- Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand:
- If thou dost love, my kindness shall incite thee
- To bind our loves up in a holy band;
- For others say thou dost deserve, and I
- Believe it better than reportingly.
- Exit
Scene ii. A room in Leonato's house.
- Enter Don Pedro, Claudio, Benedick, and Leonato
- Don Pedro: I do but stay till your marriage be consummate, and
- then go I toward Arragon.
- Claudio: I'll bring you thither, my lord, if you'll
- vouchsafe me.
- Don Pedro: Nay, that would be as great a soil in the new gloss
- of your marriage as to show a child his new coat
- and forbid him to wear it. I will only be bold
- with Benedick for his company; for, from the crown
- of his head to the sole of his foot, he is all
- mirth: he hath twice or thrice cut Cupid's
- bow-string and the little hangman dare not shoot at
- him; he hath a heart as sound as a bell and his
- tongue is the clapper, for what his heart thinks his
- tongue speaks.
- Benedick: Gallants, I am not as I have been.
- Leonato: So say I methinks you are sadder.
- Claudio: I hope he be in love.
- Don Pedro: Hang him, truant! there's no true drop of blood in
- him, to be truly touched with love: if he be sad,
- he wants money.
- Benedick: I have the toothache.
- Don Pedro: Draw it.
- Benedick: Hang it!
- Claudio: You must hang it first, and draw it afterwards.
- Don Pedro: What! sigh for the toothache?
- Leonato: Where is but a humour or a worm.
- Benedick: Well, every one can master a grief but he that has
- it.
- Claudio: Yet say I, he is in love.
- Don Pedro: There is no appearance of fancy in him, unless it be
- a fancy that he hath to strange disguises; as, to be
- a Dutchman today, a Frenchman to-morrow, or in the
- shape of two countries at once, as, a German from
- the waist downward, all slops, and a Spaniard from
- the hip upward, no doublet. Unless he have a fancy
- to this foolery, as it appears he hath, he is no
- fool for fancy, as you would have it appear he is.
- Claudio: If he be not in love with some woman, there is no
- believing old signs: a' brushes his hat o'
- mornings; what should that bode?
- Don Pedro: Hath any man seen him at the barber's?
- Claudio: No, but the barber's man hath been seen with him,
- and the old ornament of his cheek hath already
- stuffed tennis-balls.
- Leonato: Indeed, he looks younger than he did, by the loss of a beard.
- Don Pedro: Nay, a' rubs himself with civet: can you smell him
- out by that?
- Claudio: That's as much as to say, the sweet youth's in love.
- Don Pedro: The greatest note of it is his melancholy.
- Claudio: And when was he wont to wash his face?
- Don Pedro: Yea, or to paint himself? for the which, I hear
- what they say of him.
- Claudio: Nay, but his jesting spirit; which is now crept into
- a lute-string and now governed by stops.
- Don Pedro: Indeed, that tells a heavy tale for him: conclude,
- conclude he is in love.
- Claudio: Nay, but I know who loves him.
- Don Pedro: That would I know too: I warrant, one that knows him not.
- Claudio: Yes, and his ill conditions; and, in despite of
- all, dies for him.
- Don Pedro: She shall be buried with her face upwards.
- Benedick: Yet is this no charm for the toothache. Old
- signior, walk aside with me: I have studied eight
- or nine wise words to speak to you, which these
- hobby-horses must not hear.
- Exeunt Benedick and Leonato
- Don Pedro: For my life, to break with him about Beatrice.
- Claudio: 'Tis even so. Hero and Margaret have by this
- played their parts with Beatrice; and then the two
- bears will not bite one another when they meet.
- Enter Don John
- Don John: My lord and brother, God save you!
- Don Pedro: Good den, brother.
- Don John: If your leisure served, I would speak with you.
- Don Pedro: In private?
- Don John: If it please you: yet Count Claudio may hear; for
- what I would speak of concerns him.
- Don Pedro: What's the matter?
- Don John: [To Claudio] Means your lordship to be married
- to-morrow?
- Don Pedro: You know he does.
- Don John: I know not that, when he knows what I know.
- Claudio: If there be any impediment, I pray you discover it.
- Don John: You may think I love you not: let that appear
- hereafter, and aim better at me by that I now will
- manifest. For my brother, I think he holds you
- well, and in dearness of heart hath holp to effect
- your ensuing marriage;—surely suit ill spent and
- labour ill bestowed.
- Don Pedro: Why, what's the matter?
- Don John: I came hither to tell you; and, circumstances
- shortened, for she has been too long a talking of,
- the lady is disloyal.
- Claudio: Who, Hero?
- Don Pedro: Even she; Leonato's Hero, your Hero, every man's Hero:
- Claudio: Disloyal?
- Don John: The word is too good to paint out her wickedness; I
- could say she were worse: think you of a worse
- title, and I will fit her to it. Wonder not till
- further warrant: go but with me to-night, you shall
- see her chamber-window entered, even the night
- before her wedding-day: if you love her then,
- to-morrow wed her; but it would better fit your honour
- to change your mind.
- Claudio: May this be so?
- Don Pedro: I will not think it.
- Don John: If you dare not trust that you see, confess not
- that you know: if you will follow me, I will show
- you enough; and when you have seen more and heard
- more, proceed accordingly.
- Claudio: If I see any thing to-night why I should not marry
- her to-morrow in the congregation, where I should
- wed, there will I shame her.
- Don Pedro: And, as I wooed for thee to obtain her, I will join
- with thee to disgrace her.
- Don John: I will disparage her no farther till you are my
- witnesses: bear it coldly but till midnight, and
- let the issue show itself.
- Don Pedro: O day untowardly turned!
- Claudio: O mischief strangely thwarting!
- Don John: O plague right well prevented! so will you say when
- you have seen the sequel.
- Exeunt
Scene iii. A street.
- Enter Dogberry and Verges with the Watch
- Dogberry: Are you good men and true?
- Verges: Yea, or else it were pity but they should suffer
- salvation, body and soul.
- Dogberry: Nay, that were a punishment too good for them, if
- they should have any allegiance in them, being
- chosen for the prince's watch.
- Verges: Well, give them their charge, neighbour Dogberry.
- Dogberry: First, who think you the most desertless man to be
- constable?
- First Watchman: Hugh Otecake, sir, or George Seacole; for they can
- write and read.
- Dogberry: Come hither, neighbour Seacole. God hath blessed
- you with a good name: to be a well-favoured man is
- the gift of fortune; but to write and read comes by nature.
- Second Watchman: Both which, master constable,—
- Dogberry: You have: I knew it would be your answer. Well,
- for your favour, sir, why, give God thanks, and make
- no boast of it; and for your writing and reading,
- let that appear when there is no need of such
- vanity. You are thought here to be the most
- senseless and fit man for the constable of the
- watch; therefore bear you the lantern. This is your
- charge: you shall comprehend all vagrom men; you are
- to bid any man stand, in the prince's name.
- Second Watchman: How if a' will not stand?
- Dogberry: Why, then, take no note of him, but let him go; and
- presently call the rest of the watch together and
- thank God you are rid of a knave.
- Verges: If he will not stand when he is bidden, he is none
- of the prince's subjects.
- Dogberry: True, and they are to meddle with none but the
- prince's subjects. You shall also make no noise in
- the streets; for, for the watch to babble and to
- talk is most tolerable and not to be endured.
- Watchman: We will rather sleep than talk: we know what
- belongs to a watch.
- Dogberry: Why, you speak like an ancient and most quiet
- watchman; for I cannot see how sleeping should
- offend: only, have a care that your bills be not
- stolen. Well, you are to call at all the
- ale-houses, and bid those that are drunk get them to bed.
- Watchman: How if they will not?
- Dogberry: Why, then, let them alone till they are sober: if
- they make you not then the better answer, you may
- say they are not the men you took them for.
- Watchman: Well, sir.
- Dogberry: If you meet a thief, you may suspect him, by virtue
- of your office, to be no true man; and, for such
- kind of men, the less you meddle or make with them,
- why the more is for your honesty.
- Watchman: If we know him to be a thief, shall we not lay
- hands on him?
- Dogberry: Truly, by your office, you may; but I think they
- that touch pitch will be defiled: the most peaceable
- way for you, if you do take a thief, is to let him
- show himself what he is and steal out of your company.
- Verges: You have been always called a merciful man, partner.
- Dogberry: Truly, I would not hang a dog by my will, much more
- a man who hath any honesty in him.
- Verges: If you hear a child cry in the night, you must call
- to the nurse and bid her still it.
- Watchman: How if the nurse be asleep and will not hear us?
- Dogberry: Why, then, depart in peace, and let the child wake
- her with crying; for the ewe that will not hear her
- lamb when it baes will never answer a calf when he bleats.
- Verges: 'Tis very true.
- Dogberry: This is the end of the charge:—you, constable, are
- to present the prince's own person: if you meet the
- prince in the night, you may stay him.
- Verges: Nay, by'r our lady, that I think a' cannot.
- Dogberry: Five shillings to one on't, with any man that knows
- the statutes, he may stay him: marry, not without
- the prince be willing; for, indeed, the watch ought
- to offend no man; and it is an offence to stay a
- man against his will.
- Verges: By'r lady, I think it be so.
- Dogberry: Ha, ha, ha! Well, masters, good night: an there be
- any matter of weight chances, call up me: keep your
- fellows' counsels and your own; and good night.
- Come, neighbour.
- Watchman: Well, masters, we hear our charge: let us go sit here
- upon the church-bench till two, and then all to bed.
- Dogberry: One word more, honest neighbours. I pray you watch
- about Signior Leonato's door; for the wedding being
- there to-morrow, there is a great coil to-night.
- Adieu: be vigitant, I beseech you.
- Exeunt Dogberry and Verges
- Enter Borachio and Conrade
- Borachio: What Conrade!
- Watchman: [Aside] Peace! stir not.
- Borachio: Conrade, I say!
- Conrade: Here, man; I am at thy elbow.
- Borachio: Mass, and my elbow itched; I thought there would a
- scab follow.
- Conrade: I will owe thee an answer for that: and now forward
- with thy tale.
- Borachio: Stand thee close, then, under this pent-house, for
- it drizzles rain; and I will, like a true drunkard,
- utter all to thee.
- Watchman: [Aside] Some treason, masters: yet stand close.
- Borachio: Therefore know I have earned of Don John a thousand ducats.
- Conrade: Is it possible that any villany should be so dear?
- Borachio: Thou shouldst rather ask if it were possible any
- villany should be so rich; for when rich villains
- have need of poor ones, poor ones may make what
- price they will.
- Conrade: I wonder at it.
- Borachio: That shows thou art unconfirmed. Thou knowest that
- the fashion of a doublet, or a hat, or a cloak, is
- nothing to a man.
- Conrade: Yes, it is apparel.
- Borachio: I mean, the fashion.
- Conrade: Yes, the fashion is the fashion.
- Borachio: Tush! I may as well say the fool's the fool. But
- seest thou not what a deformed thief this fashion
- is?
- Watchman: [Aside] I know that Deformed; a' has been a vile
- thief this seven year; a' goes up and down like a
- gentleman: I remember his name.
- Borachio: Didst thou not hear somebody?
- Conrade: No; 'twas the vane on the house.
- Borachio: Seest thou not, I say, what a deformed thief this
- fashion is? how giddily a' turns about all the hot
- bloods between fourteen and five-and-thirty?
- sometimes fashioning them like Pharaoh's soldiers
- in the reeky painting, sometime like god Bel's
- priests in the old church-window, sometime like the
- shaven Hercules in the smirched worm-eaten tapestry,
- where his codpiece seems as massy as his club?
- Conrade: All this I see; and I see that the fashion wears
- out more apparel than the man. But art not thou
- thyself giddy with the fashion too, that thou hast
- shifted out of thy tale into telling me of the fashion?
- Borachio: Not so, neither: but know that I have to-night
- wooed Margaret, the Lady Hero's gentlewoman, by the
- name of Hero: she leans me out at her mistress'
- chamber-window, bids me a thousand times good
- night,—I tell this tale vilely:—I should first
- tell thee how the prince, Claudio and my master,
- planted and placed and possessed by my master Don
- John, saw afar off in the orchard this amiable encounter.
- Conrade: And thought they Margaret was Hero?
- Borachio: Two of them did, the prince and Claudio; but the
- devil my master knew she was Margaret; and partly
- by his oaths, which first possessed them, partly by
- the dark night, which did deceive them, but chiefly
- by my villany, which did confirm any slander that
- Don John had made, away went Claudio enraged; swore
- he would meet her, as he was appointed, next morning
- at the temple, and there, before the whole
- congregation, shame her with what he saw o'er night
- and send her home again without a husband.
- First Watchman: We charge you, in the prince's name, stand!
- Second Watchman: Call up the right master constable. We have here
- recovered the most dangerous piece of lechery that
- ever was known in the commonwealth.
- First Watchman: And one Deformed is one of them: I know him; a'
- wears a lock.
- Conrade: Masters, masters,—
- Second Watchman: You'll be made bring Deformed forth, I warrant you.
- Conrade: Masters,—
- First Watchman: Never speak: we charge you let us obey you to go with us.
- Borachio: We are like to prove a goodly commodity, being taken
- up of these men's bills.
- Conrade: A commodity in question, I warrant you. Come, we'll obey you.
- Exeunt
Scene iv. Hero's apartment.
- Enter Hero, Margaret, and Ursula
- Hero: Good Ursula, wake my cousin Beatrice, and desire
- her to rise.
- Ursula: I will, lady.
- Hero: And bid her come hither.
- Ursula: Well.
- Exit
- Margaret: Troth, I think your other rabato were better.
- Hero: No, pray thee, good Meg, I'll wear this.
- Margaret: By my troth, 's not so good; and I warrant your
- cousin will say so.
- Hero: My cousin's a fool, and thou art another: I'll wear
- none but this.
- Margaret: I like the new tire within excellently, if the hair
- were a thought browner; and your gown's a most rare
- fashion, i' faith. I saw the Duchess of Milan's
- gown that they praise so.
- Hero: O, that exceeds, they say.
- Margaret: By my troth, 's but a night-gown in respect of
- yours: cloth o' gold, and cuts, and laced with
- silver, set with pearls, down sleeves, side sleeves,
- and skirts, round underborne with a bluish tinsel:
- but for a fine, quaint, graceful and excellent
- fashion, yours is worth ten on 't.
- Hero: God give me joy to wear it! for my heart is
- exceeding heavy.
- Margaret: 'Twill be heavier soon by the weight of a man.
- Hero: Fie upon thee! art not ashamed?
- Margaret: Of what, lady? of speaking honourably? Is not
- marriage honourable in a beggar? Is not your lord
- honourable without marriage? I think you would have
- me say, 'saving your reverence, a husband:' and bad
- thinking do not wrest true speaking, I'll offend
- nobody: is there any harm in 'the heavier for a
- husband'? None, I think, and it be the right husband
- and the right wife; otherwise 'tis light, and not
- heavy: ask my Lady Beatrice else; here she comes.
- Enter Beatrice
- Hero: Good morrow, coz.
- Beatrice: Good morrow, sweet Hero.
- Hero: Why how now? do you speak in the sick tune?
- Beatrice: I am out of all other tune, methinks.
- Margaret: Clap's into 'Light o' love;' that goes without a
- burden: do you sing it, and I'll dance it.
- Beatrice: Ye light o' love, with your heels! then, if your
- husband have stables enough, you'll see he shall
- lack no barns.
- Margaret: O illegitimate construction! I scorn that with my heels.
- Beatrice: 'Tis almost five o'clock, cousin; tis time you were
- ready. By my troth, I am exceeding ill: heigh-ho!
- Margaret: For a hawk, a horse, or a husband?
- Beatrice: For the letter that begins them all, H.
- Margaret: Well, and you be not turned Turk, there's no more
- sailing by the star.
- Beatrice: What means the fool, trow?
- Margaret: Nothing I; but God send every one their heart's desire!
- Hero: These gloves the count sent me; they are an
- excellent perfume.
- Beatrice: I am stuffed, cousin; I cannot smell.
- Margaret: A maid, and stuffed! there's goodly catching of cold.
- Beatrice: O, God help me! God help me! how long have you
- professed apprehension?
- Margaret: Even since you left it. Doth not my wit become me rarely?
- Beatrice: It is not seen enough, you should wear it in your
- cap. By my troth, I am sick.
- Margaret: Get you some of this distilled Carduus Benedictus,
- and lay it to your heart: it is the only thing for a qualm.
- Hero: There thou prickest her with a thistle.
- Beatrice: Benedictus! why Benedictus? you have some moral in
- this Benedictus.
- Margaret: Moral! no, by my troth, I have no moral meaning; I
- meant, plain holy-thistle. You may think perchance
- that I think you are in love: nay, by'r lady, I am
- not such a fool to think what I list, nor I list
- not to think what I can, nor indeed I cannot think,
- if I would think my heart out of thinking, that you
- are in love or that you will be in love or that you
- can be in love. Yet Benedick was such another, and
- now is he become a man: he swore he would never
- marry, and yet now, in despite of his heart, he eats
- his meat without grudging: and how you may be
- converted I know not, but methinks you look with
- your eyes as other women do.
- Beatrice: What pace is this that thy tongue keeps?
- Margaret: Not a false gallop.
- Re-enter Ursula
- Ursula: Madam, withdraw: the prince, the count, Signior
- Benedick, Don John, and all the gallants of the
- town, are come to fetch you to church.
- Hero: Help to dress me, good coz, good Meg, good Ursula.
- Exeunt
Scene v. Another room in Leonato's house.
- Enter Leonato, with Dogberry and Verges
- Leonato: What would you with me, honest neighbour?
- Dogberry: Marry, sir, I would have some confidence with you
- that decerns you nearly.
- Leonato: Brief, I pray you; for you see it is a busy time with me.
- Dogberry: Marry, this it is, sir.
- Verges: Yes, in truth it is, sir.
- Leonato: What is it, my good friends?
- Dogberry: Goodman Verges, sir, speaks a little off the
- matter: an old man, sir, and his wits are not so
- blunt as, God help, I would desire they were; but,
- in faith, honest as the skin between his brows.
- Verges: Yes, I thank God I am as honest as any man living
- that is an old man and no honester than I.
- Dogberry: Comparisons are odorous: palabras, neighbour Verges.
- Leonato: Neighbours, you are tedious.
- Dogberry: It pleases your worship to say so, but we are the
- poor duke's officers; but truly, for mine own part,
- if I were as tedious as a king, I could find it in
- my heart to bestow it all of your worship.
- Leonato: All thy tediousness on me, ah?
- Dogberry: Yea, an 'twere a thousand pound more than 'tis; for
- I hear as good exclamation on your worship as of any
- man in the city; and though I be but a poor man, I
- am glad to hear it.
- Verges: And so am I.
- Leonato: I would fain know what you have to say.
- Verges: Marry, sir, our watch to-night, excepting your
- worship's presence, ha' ta'en a couple of as arrant
- knaves as any in Messina.
- Dogberry: A good old man, sir; he will be talking: as they
- say, when the age is in, the wit is out: God help
- us! it is a world to see. Well said, i' faith,
- neighbour Verges: well, God's a good man; an two men
- ride of a horse, one must ride behind. An honest
- soul, i' faith, sir; by my troth he is, as ever
- broke bread; but God is to be worshipped; all men
- are not alike; alas, good neighbour!
- Leonato: Indeed, neighbour, he comes too short of you.
- Dogberry: Gifts that God gives.
- Leonato: I must leave you.
- Dogberry: One word, sir: our watch, sir, have indeed
- comprehended two aspicious persons, and we would
- have them this morning examined before your worship.
- Leonato: Take their examination yourself and bring it me: I
- am now in great haste, as it may appear unto you.
- Dogberry: It shall be suffigance.
- Leonato: Drink some wine ere you go: fare you well.
- Enter a Messenger
- Messenger: My lord, they stay for you to give your daughter to
- her husband.
- Leonato: I'll wait upon them: I am ready.
- Exeunt Leonato and Messenger
- Dogberry: Go, good partner, go, get you to Francis Seacole;
- bid him bring his pen and inkhorn to the gaol: we
- are now to examination these men.
- Verges: And we must do it wisely.
- Dogberry: We will spare for no wit, I warrant you; here's
- that shall drive some of them to a non-come: only
- get the learned writer to set down our
- excommunication and meet me at the gaol.
- Exeunt
- --oOo-- -